MEMPHIS -- First year head coach Cuonzo Martin is smack in the middle of what can very accurately be called a rebuilding process, but the job became much less of a 'fixer-upper' proposition thanks to developments in Memphis this evening. Five star forward Jarnell Stokes shocked many when he turned his back on some of the elite powers of college basketball and gave a verbal commitment to Tennessee.

Stokes graduated from high school at the mid-term and will enroll in college in January. Tonight's decision ends what has been a turbulent month full of furious speculation about what the No. 11 ranked player in the nation might do.

That speculation ended in the banquet room of the Fino Villa restaraunt in Collierville when Stokes pulled out a black Tennessee hat from a box wrapped up in Christmas paper.

"I walk by faith and not by sight. God led me to this point, and I'm excited about the future," Stokes said before revealing his choice, and donning the hat "I'm picking Tennessee. It was a last minute decision, but once I reached it I was completely at peace. I think there's great things to come for the program."